BN(O) 以十年長期居住為由申請英國永久居留 (ILR)

DarthDucky

BN(O) Indefinite Leave to Remain(ILR) in the UK on the Basis of 10yr Long Residence

Thought I would share my timeline and other info in case anyone is applying for ILR as well

I am not an expert but I am happy to answer questions if I could help

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Route:

Student visa > Post-Study Work > Youth Mobility Scheme > Indefinite Leave to Remain

Timeline:

Postal application form: SET(LR)

Application sent: 4th Dec 2015

Application received: 7th Dec 2015

Payment deducted (£1,500): 9th Dec 2015

Acknowledgement email received: 14th Dec 2015

Biometric residence permit (BRP) invitation received: 15th Dec 2015

Biometric information enrolled: 16th Dec 2015

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) approved: 20th April 2016

Biometric residence permit (BRP) received: 23rd April 2016

Documents submitted: (+ photocopies of everything)

Current BN(O), 2 x expired BN(O)

2 x passport size colour photographs

Life in the UK test pass certificate

Latest council tax letter

Latest bank statement

Latest P60 and pay slip (Research Scientist)

National Insurance number card

Driving licence and counterpart

Days of absence spreadsheet

School acceptance letter from 2001 (Year 7)

NHS card from 2001

GCSE and A Level results slip

BSc and MSc degree transcript

Other info:

Long-residence Overview:

https://www.gov.uk/long-residence/overview

Set(LR) Application Form:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-settle-in-uk-form-setlr

Set(LR) Guidance Notes (for applicant):

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/469597/SET_LR__guidance_notes_11-15.pdf

Set(LR) Guidance Notes (for Home Office staff):

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488265/Long_Residence_v13.0_EXT.pdf

I used this Life in the UK: Citizenship test app:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Webrich-Software-Life-UK-Citizenship/dp/B00HU2B3OI/

亮燈

唔係BNO就冇得攪

DarthDucky

Ah I thought anyone can apply as long as they have been here for 10 years...?
This person had a Chinese passport: https://justyy.com/archives/351

skIII

DarthDucky 發表於 16-5-10 21:51
Ah I thought anyone can apply as long as they have been here for 10 years...?
This person had a Chin ...

I always read articles from this blogger. I think he is quite a talented person and he got a PhD in Computer Science from a UK uni. It is easy for him to stay in the UK considering his background. But for degree graduates, it is not easy to get a job and the competition is very keen.

DarthDucky

I don't know him at all. I was just trying to point out he used a Chinese passport to apply for ILR under SET(LR) - It's not limited to BN(O) holders.

Definitely agree with the grad job part! It's all about the STEM subjects these days:
http://www.independent.co.uk/new ... -2016-a6855616.html

123BB

爸爸有, 可以點搞?

DarthDucky

Dad is in the UK? Child is in the UK?

DarthDucky

Link: http://edu.sina.com.cn/a/2014-10-14/1025248890.shtml

作者：Peter Liu, 劉鵬，微信號liu07888088168，彼得森律師行，英國移民[微博]局內政事務署註冊高級移民律師，英國移民律師協會資深會員。

根據英國現行移民法律條款，通俗的解釋10年永居 － 任何申請人在英國連續，合法居住滿足10年後，都可以申請英國的綠卡 (ILR,永久居留)。從整個中國地區前往英國留學移民的數據上來看，2014,2015年將有很多10年前來自中國讀書的學生申請人有可能符合這個申請條件，此文將從法律基礎以及常見問題，包括相應技巧對此政策進行全面解讀，希望能夠幫到那些有需要的申請人。

此法律條款的存在性及延續性：

很多申請10年永居的人擔憂這種永居申請的方式會在不久的將來被英國政府取消，但我們從法源上來作出的判斷是英國政府完全取消此條款的可能性很小。首先，10年永居是歐盟人權法裡一條重要的規定，所以除非英國完全退出歐盟，依據10年進行的永居申請將一直有效。

在這篇文章中，我首先將詳細介紹10年永居的要求和相關概念，然後梳理申請10年永居的關鍵點和難點，最後我將對關於10年永居相關的法令法規做出解釋，好讓大家徹底掌握10年永居申請。

概念篇

首先，我們必須搞清楚“什麼是10年永居”？其實平日里大家說的10年永居的正確講法應該是“依據長時間居住在英國申請永久居留權(Permanent Residency based on Long Residency Rule)”。那麼多長時間算是“長時間居留在英國呢？”，沒錯，就是10年。相關申請指南中(long residency policy guide)明確指出從某人入境英國那天算起，如果此人連續性並且合法(continuously lawful)在英國居住超過10年即有權申請英國永居。 這裡要注意，10年期限的計算一定是從此人進入英國那天算起，而非此人拿到簽證的日期。由於簽證有效期一般早於某人實際進入英國的日期，所以這裡我需要特此聲明。有關10年的期限，嚴格來講，其實申請人可以提前28天遞交申請，也就是說申請人如果在英國合法連續居留9年11個月零2天即有權申請永居。

什麼是合法簽證？

讀者恐怕已經註意到“連續性”和“合法”這兩個關鍵點。的確，在英國居住10年也許容易達到，但要滿足連續合法卻不一定容易。我們先來看怎樣才算是“合法”，這裡有一個很簡單的判斷標準，那就是只要是由英國政府(無論境內境外)簽發的簽證即算是合法簽證。申請者對於一般的簽證類型都很有把握，大家知道學生簽，工作簽，配偶籤等簽證類型都算在合法簽證種類下，但這裡我特意強調大家不要忽略“旅遊簽”。旅遊簽因為時間短，並且不具有長期居留權而被大多數人排除在申請10年永居簽證類型外，但很多申請人忽略的是：旅遊簽也屬於“合法簽證”之一，算在10年永居簽證類型的範圍內。

什麼是連續簽證？

說完了“合法簽證”，我們來看“連續性”這個問題。從概念上來說，英國政府對於連續性的定義為

　　“在10年當中，申請人單次離境天數不得超過180天，同時在10年內離境總天數不超過539天”。

總天數539好理解，關於單次180天的規定需要注意兩方面的問題：
　　1). 在英國境內的連續性和時間問題；
　　2). 在英國境外的連續性和時間問題。

在境內的連續性一般來講很好保證，申請人只要確保每次續籤時遞出去簽證是在當下簽證到期前即算作滿足連續性。 10年永居指南中甚至寫到申請人理論上講只要在現有簽證到期後的28天內遞交新的簽證就仍然保持著連續性的規定。

在彼得森律師處過的多數案例中，凡是在簽證到期後遞交新簽證，大多被移民局看作是存在“斷期(gap)”，如果不在遞交時明確指明法律條款細節(其實移民局的case worker很多人對條例都不清除，汗。。。)申請被拒情況頗多。在境外的連續性可以這樣理解，即：申請者在每次離開英國時都必須具有英國合法簽證，每次回英國時也都必須具有英國合法簽證(離境和入境時，簽證種類可以不同)，並且離開時間不能超過180天。 　　

天數上的要求是硬指標，如果申請者勵志要拿下10年永居，最好在這兩個指標(180天和539天)上不要超標。當然申請者可以提供相關材料去試著證明自己超出離境天數為必不得已(火山爆發，醫療狀況，車禍，飛機失聯等以外狀況)，但申請成功的可能性也有可能隨之降低。

實際操作篇

在了解了10年永居的概念後，我們這裡談一下申請所需要達到的條件和申請材料。除了要具備連續性合法簽證外，

申請者在申請10年永居的時候必須通過一個叫做“Life in the UK Test”的考試，這個考試意在測試申請人對於英國這個國家的知曉程度，考試裡會涉及到諸如英國歷史，當代政治，生活細則，社會系統，國家法律法規等問題。

此外，申請者還需要能夠證明自己的語言能力，申請者可以提供包括雅思[微博]在內的英語測試等級證明(需要達到B1級別，也就是雅思考試的4分)，或者提供申請者(如果在英國接受過教育)的大學畢業證書以證明其英語能力。

最後，申請者必須證明自己在英國有著很好的生活記錄，不能出現任何的犯罪記錄，這是考驗申請者是否能夠成為一名合格的英國公民的重要考核。對於大多數中國人來講，駕車違章記錄恐怕是一個頭疼的問題，駕車違章也是申請10年永居時簽證官重點考察的一個記錄。依照目前的違章規定，根據不同的違章形式，申請者的駕駛積分將會被扣除長達3年到5年。換句話說，如果申請者在申請永居時能夠剛好趕在駕駛積分被恢復則沒有問題，否則你的申請上會出現違章記錄，這對申請不利。

在滿足了上面的所有條件後，申請人便可以著手準備永居的申請，申請材料很簡單，一份申請表，兩張照片，一份你在英國警察局的註冊信(如果你有的話)，1,093英鎊的申請費，和諸如水電氣賬單，council tax，工資單等能夠證明申請人在英國記錄的材料。以上材料均需提供原件和復印件。需要注意的是，從法律條文中對地址證明及簽證歷史的說明並沒有明確要求，但是建議申請人如果有相關證據可以考慮提交，並不是必要條件！ ！ ！

10年永居相關政策篇

在閱讀完以上文字後，申請者應該能夠順利地申請10年永居，在本文的最後一個部分我最後再介紹一下與10年永居相關的移民政策，希望能夠幫助需要的朋友們。

首先，我先來說一下關於依據10年永居續籤的問題。有些申請者在滿足了10年永居的條件下或是由於語言問題，或是由於life in the UK Test 考試的問題還是無法申請10年永居，在這種情況下，英國方面允許申請人申請2年的續簽，申請人可以利用這兩年時間繼續學習與英國相關的知識已準備各種考試，或者利用這兩年時間做申請人想做的事情。英國方面規定，如果申請人續籤後在英國的總時間沒有超過20年，那麼申請者續籤後的簽證種類則跟與上一個簽證種類一致，而如果申請者申請後在英時間超過20年，那麼申請者將不受制於上一個簽證種類的製約，比如，申請者A上一個簽證是學生簽，在滿足10年永居的情況下進行續簽2年後A在英國的總時間超過20年，那麼A將不再受制於學生簽證限制，A可以自由工作。

其次，我來說說申請10年永居後的相關事宜。大多數中國人拿到永居後有這兩種考慮：

　　1)。準備加入英國國籍；

　　2)。拿到永居後能夠自由在中英兩國之間往返。

先來說前一種，在拿到英國永居後加入英國國籍可以通過一個叫“歸化(naturalisation)”的過程實現，條件也頗為簡單。申請人在拿到永居後的一年就可以申請國籍，申請人只需確保自己在過去的5年中離境天數不超過450天，在過去的一年內離境天數不超過90天。對於後一種人群，那些想要利用英國永居來回穿梭與中英兩國之間的人們來說，如果想保持自己的永居身份，那麼申請者需要確保自己每兩年內必須返回英國一次，否則永居卡將會被吊銷。

事實上，英國方面並沒有規定每次回到英國需要停留的時間，根據我們的經驗來看，對於兩年內必須回到英國的規定也並非是一個絕對的量化的考核。這裡要注意的是英國方面的所說的“動機(intention)”這樣一個問題。對於擁有永居的人來說，英國方面想要看到的是你真正想要在英國安定下來並且長期生活在英國這樣一個情況，也就是說，如果你能證明你與英國保持著絕對的聯繫並且能夠展示出你決定在英國生活的證據，那麼在進入海關的時候出示永居卡便應該能夠保證你順利入境。相反，如果你離開英國過久，回來時又沒能展示出你返回英國居住的證據，那麼你的永居卡則很有可能會被吊銷。

最後，我來說一說這個叫做 Private Life 的問題。上文中已經提到根據10年永居續籤後是否到達20年這一問題，Private Life 就是根據這個20年的期限判斷的。簡單來講，由於早年間英國移民法的不健全，很多移民進入英國後並沒有合法手續，所以依據10年永居的申請途徑無法確保他們能夠合法地居留在英國，依據 Private life 申請永居就是為了解決這些人的移民問題。這條法令是這樣的，

1)。如果申請人連續在英國逗留20年以上，無論簽證類型是合法或是非合法，申請人都有權利申請在英國的永久居留權；

2)。如果申請人小於18歲，那麼只要證明其在英國連續居留超過7年，即可申請英國永久居留；

3)。如果申請人年齡在18-25 歲之間，那麼申請者只要證明自己在英國連續性生活，並且居留時間超過了其整個生命的一半以上，即可申請英國永居。

我們可以看到，設置 Private Life 的初衷是對於人道主義的考慮，對於那些在英國長期居住但沒有合法簽證的人們來講，這是他們能夠移民英國的合法途徑。

上述第三條時絕大多是人所不知道的，甚至包括很多律師執業者，對這條法律條文都很陌生，但是實際情況來看，特別適合那些很小就進入英國後的申請人，譬如5,6歲進入英國以後，6年以後就可以申請英國綠卡。

*I don't think this part is correct. If you are under 18 it should be 7 years, this is called the Seven Years Child Concession Rule.

總結篇

我在這篇文章中詳細闡述了有關10年永居申請的法則，細節，申請條件和相關延伸政策，希望讀者能夠從中獲益。 10年永居申請的難點主要集中在對於合法簽證，連續性簽證，斷裂(gap)這些關鍵概念上的計算和把握。從概念上講，確保具有定居在英國的意願(intention)至關重要。如果申請者對於10年永居的申請存在異議或是還有不清楚，請聯繫專業機構進行諮詢。

newdaddy

I have 2 questions:

Say if a child goes to UK to study at 10 years old, he can apply for ILR at 17 years old? Is the duration of study in UK counted when calculating the 7 (or 10 ) years stay in UK?

Another case is if the kid goes to study in UK at the age of 13 and go to University there, he can apply for ILR when he is 23 (i.e. while still studying in University in UK)?

Thanks.

DarthDucky

Q1. So it appears. 10 years is a definite yes (under 10 Years Long Residence), but I did not apply under Private Life (7 years for under 18) so you may want to have a look on:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immi ... -7-other-categories
Scroll down to Private Life.

Q2. Yes. He/she will be able to apply for ILR under 10 Years Long Residence. 10 years on a student visa will be a pretty straight forward case.

Useful forum:
http://www.immigrationboards.com ... cations-t52692.html

They have an online spreadsheet to keep track of their members' application:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsh ... 67Q/htmlview?pli=1#
Open tab SET(LT). Row 72 = 10yr student visa case

Cheers.

DarthDucky

Link: https://www.gov.uk/long-residence/eligibility

"You must have permission to stay (‘leave to remain’). This can be in any immigration category, or a combination of different immigration categories."

This can be 10yr Tier 4 if you like, 8yr Tier 4 + 2yr Tier 1 etc. Any combination is acceptable.

Link 2 for EEA (e.g. you have a Portuguese passport because you were born in Macau): https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-u ... nent-residence-card

DarthDucky

newdaddy

is under the age of 18 years and has lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years (discounting any period of imprisonment) and it would not be reasonable to expect the applicant to leave the UK; or

newdaddy

I have looked inbto this clause:
...is under the age of 18 years and has lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years (discounting any period of imprisonment) and "it would not be reasonable to expect the applicant to leave the UK".
For students studying in UK , would they be counted as " it WOULD be reasonable to expect the applciant to leave UK"? that's what I am worrying about.
Thanks anyway for your detailed analysis coz I think lots of parents mayhave this concern at this day and age.

DarthDucky

Again I don't know anything about under 18s because I am in my 20s

I think you are right. It seems much harder to present your case if you apply under Private Life.
Most of my friends applied under 10 Years Long Residence. I would go as far as saying it is better to apply under 10yr LR than the current Tier 1 or 2 work visa 5 years route, because the success rate appears to be much higher.

DarthDucky

If they have been here for 7 years on a student visa, they might as well study for another 3 years (uni degree) to complete their 10 years.

If they have been here for 8 years on a student visa, but for various reasons they cannot switch to a work visa, they may want to have a look at "Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa"

Link: https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-youth-mobility/overview
Link 2: http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/plan/guidance.htm

1.	From 1 January 2014, Hong Kong has become one of the participants of the Youth Mobility Scheme1 (YMS) of the United Kingdom (UK).
2.	To be eligible for YMS, an applicant must: be aged between 18 and 30 on the day the visa application is lodged; not be accompanied by any dependents during the journey; be ordinarily resident in the HKSAR and hold a valid HKSAR passport or British National (Overseas) passport (BNO passport); hold a departure ticket, or have sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket; and be able to produce financial proof of available funds (currently set at £1,890) to support himself/herself.
3.	1,000 places will be available for Hong Kong youths who possess a valid HKSAR passport to travel to the UK every year.  Applicants are required to obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before submitting their visa applications to the UK Visa Application Centre in Hong Kong.  There is no annual quota for holders of BNO passport and neither are they required to possess a CoS.
4.	Successful applicants under YMS will be granted an entry visa to the UK. They are allowed to enter and stay in the UK for a period of up to 24 months. During their stay, they can engage in work, privately-funded studies and/or voluntary work of choice2.

DarthDucky

I found a Freedom of Information request on SET(LR) stats from Jan 2014 to Dec 2014:

The overall "success rate" (ILR granted) = 84%


Link: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/r ... se%2034596.pdf.html








Customer Service Operations
UK Visas & Immigration
Department 16
The Capital
Old Hall Place
Liverpool
L3 9PP










Sam
17 March 2015
Our Reference: 34596
[FOI #256429 email]




Dear Sam


Thank you for your email of 3 March, in which you ask for information regarding applications
received under the 10 year residency rule for a specific time period. Your request has been
handled as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  


You have requested the following information;


How many applications you have received under the10 years Long residency rule for the pe-
riod between January 2014- December 2014 and what percentage/Number was successful?


The number of the 10 year Long residency applications received between 01-Jan-2014 and 31-Dec-2014.


Case Type
Rounded Number of Cases
Long Residency (10 Year) - ILR
9,415


Of those applications that have been received between 01-Jan-2014 and 31-Dec-2014, the number that
have been completed.  

Case Type
Pending/Complete
Rounded Number of Cases
Long Residency (10 Year) - ILR
Complete
5,705

Of those 10 year Long residency applications received between 01-Jan-2014 and 31-Dec-2014, and which
have been completed; the number which were granted.

Rounded Number of
Case Type
Pending/Complete
Outcome
Cases
Long Residency (10
Year) - ILR
Complete
Granted
4,810


UK Visas and Immigration is an operational command of the Home Office      

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Of those 10 year Long residency applications received between 01-Jan-2014 and 31-Dec-2014, and which have been completed, the percentage which were granted.

84%

NB: Any application which was completed after the 31-December 2014 is deemed to be pending as in line with published stats.



In keeping with the Freedom of Information Act, we assume that all information can be
released to the public unless it is exempt. In line with normal practice we are therefore
releasing the information which you requested via the Home Office website.  


I hope that this information meets your requirements. I would like to assure you that we have
provided you with all relevant information that the Home Office holds.   


If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of
our handling of your request by submitting a complaint within two months to the address
below, quoting reference number 34596. If you ask for an internal review, it would be helpful
if you could say why you are dissatisfied with the response.  


Information Access Team
Home Office
3rd Floor, Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
e-mail:[email address]



As part of any internal review the Department's handling of your information request will be
reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. If you remain
dissatisfied after this internal review, you would have a right of complaint to the Information
Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.  


We also value your feedback, please use the link below to access a brief anonymous survey
to help us improve our service to you”:http://www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/108105TAZNG



Yours sincerely




Cliff Walls
Customer Service Operations

goldenretriver

Appreciate for the info
若媽媽係英國公民, 但因該公民身份有相關限制, 不能令小囡跟隨媽媽申請成為公民 (有點復雜), 那若小囡到英國讀書亦不能入讀政府學校嗎? 聽聞要住滿+2年先有資格?

謝謝解答!

DarthDucky

Hi goldenretriver,

I think it would depend on your daughter's immigration category?

If she is applying under Tier 4 (General), she will need a CAS number, which will limit your choice to the schools that are currently on the REGISTER OF SPONSORS (Tier 4): https://www.gov.uk/government/up ... ter_of_Sponsors.pdf

If you are in the UK, your daughter could apply for a family visa (to join family living permanently in the UK). As a family visa holder, your daughter should be eligible to attend state funded school. You could contact your Local Education Authority to enrol your child: https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk

More info:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.u ... ming-from-abroad-w/

http://www.childcare.admin.cam.a ... e-school-admissions

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk ... erseas-Guidance.pdf

http://www.justanswer.com/uk-imm ... itish-passport.html

*I must add I have no experience in dealing with state school enrolment for non-EEA, so it is probably better to contact Citizens Advice. You can start a "web chat" on: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/

DarthDucky

You may want to have a look here as well: http://www.baby-kingdom.com/foru ... display&fid=134